Miami's Best Albums, EPs, Singles of 2012

J. Nics: SNAS: The ProductJ. Nics has been one of the most likable and respected MCs on Miami's rap scene for some time now. But 2012 was definitely a breakout campaign for the "Polar Bear Mack." While the Miami Gardens native stayed active all year (even releasing another full-length record, Darkside, with Atlanta producer Burn One this month), Nics's growing profile in Florida and beyond is mostly due to May's SNAS: The Product. A free online release that deserves to be recognized as an album, The Product was as cohesive as mixtapes get, offering a ruminative, relatable look inside Nics' creative mind. With its combination of thoughtful wordplay and bottom-heavy trap beats, it confirmed that Nics is an MC capable of defying hip-hop's regional divisions. Jesse Serwer